A GOD IN RUINS

The hero is an Irish Catholic running for president. A few weeks before the election he discovers he's Jewish. Interesting premise. But first we have the story of his parents, his upbringing, his marriage. His wife leaves him. She takes up with a man. We later find out the man is a drug lord, but those chapters are missing. Instead, fast forward, she's back with her husband, they have three kids and he's governor. And so it goes. The plot points are all there, but it feels like half the book is missing, which, of course, it is. That said, Leon Uris is an excellent storyteller and a detailed researcher. Stephen Lang is an energetic reader, not great with female voices but, all in all, a pleasure to listen to. M.D.B. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 99]